Intro to Absolutism

What is it? Complete Sovereignty of National Power Good v. Bad? Hereditary Assumption of Power Divine Right of Kings Good v. Bad?

Western v. Eastern Absolutism France, Spain Ruler not subordinate to national assemblies Nobility under monarch’s control Bureaucrats are career officials, often middle class Large standing armies Control of church & education HOP RAP (aging v. new empires) Powerful nobility, weak middle class, oppressed peasantry Serfs & Robots Permanent taxes Large standing armies Diplomatic Relations Smurfs & Robots

Constitutionalism Government power is limited by law Emphasis on Civil Rights & Liberties England: Constitutional Monarchy, King and Parliament Netherlands: Republican Confederation, stadtholders

Who are the names? Jean Bodin Thomas Hobbes Bishop Jacques Bossuet French Civil War Only absolute control can provide order and stability Thomas Hobbes State of nature: Mankind is naturally “Nasty brutish and short” Fear of anarchy Bishop Jacques Bossuet Divine Right of Kings: no authority to man, only God Cardinal Richelieu & Louis XIII

Louis XIV Consolidating power One Law, One King, One Faith Cultural—Versailles (Fronde) Economic—Colbert Political—Cardinal Mazarin, intendant system, also Versailles Religious—revoke Edict of Nates One Law, One King, One Faith

Wars of Louis XIV

So what’s he trying to do? Conquer New Territory French Dominance Weaken Rivals Personal Glory

Wars of Louis XIV War Causes Key Events Significance The War of Devolution (1667-1668) Challenge Hapsburg Dominance in Europe: France v. Spain Overruns Belgium & Franche-Comté, but returned to Spain Secret Treaty of Dover w/ British: Money & Navy Double team the Dutch The Franco-Dutch War (1672-1678) Treaty of Dover; Wants that land & Spain out, Small Confederation v. Large State Rampjarr: Disaster Year, 1672; change of leadership to Wm III (Orange), Flood country Dutch period of decline, Louis gains Spanish Netherlands The Nine Years War AKA War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697) Wm III b/cm English King, Grande Alliance forms v. Louis French navy burned, King William’s War in North America Both sides go broke, Treaty settled, Fr leaves territory of HRE The War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714) Spanish King Charles II dies w/o heir

Wars of Louis XIV War Causes Key Events Significance The War of Devolution (1667-1668) Challenge Hapsburg Dominance in Europe: France v. Spain Overruns Belgium & Franche-Comté, but returned to Spain Secret Treaty of Dover w/ British: Money & Navy Double team the Dutch The Franco-Dutch War (1672-1678) Treaty of Dover; Wants that Spain out, Small Confederation v. Large State Rampjarr: Disaster Year, 1672; change of leadership to Wm III (Orange), Flood country Dutch period of decline, Louis gains Spanish Netherlands The Nine Year’s War AKA War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697) Wm III b/cm English King, Grande Alliance forms v. Louis French navy burned, King William’s War in North America Both sides go broke, Treaty settled, Fr leaves territory of HRE The War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714) Spanish King Charles II dies w/o heir, everyone has a claim France holds own against Grand Alliance, did not lose/gain territory: Draw Treaty of Utrecht: Bourbons in Spain, Gibraltar base, Changes Balance of Power

Consequences of Louis’s Wars Did he achieve his goals? Yes & No Bankrupted France Weak leadership under heir: Louis XV Spent money lavishly Policies influenced by mistress Madam du Pompadour

Wait what about Spain? Weak rulers High inflation—economic decline Decrease of power and influence